Chapter 14: The Secret Written in Golden Light

“Energy!

I can see energy!

I can see it, my lord!”

Hyeonwol ended up fumbling and dropping the documents he had been organizing on the table in the head’s office.

Regardless of whether ink splattered, it was because the child, who until yesterday had been a Blood Cult connection and master of sinister arts, came running while speaking like an enlightened Taoist master.

“Oh dear, your clothes will get ink on them too!”

“Waah!

I’m sorry!”

The two flustered and made a fuss prematurely.

Since Hyeonwol’s clothes were the same black robe he had worn since his first day staying at Wolsigak, even if a little ink splattered, it wouldn’t show, but Lin’s clothes were the bright-colored martial arts robe indicating Wolsigak affiliation.

Fortunately, no black stains were visible.

Simultaneously sighing in relief, the two burst into foolish laughter.

“Calm down and sit first.

There happen to be some snacks left over, so have these too.”

“Ahaha….

Yes!”

It was already the third day since Hyeonwol had brought Lin to Wolsigak.

Having recovered her strength in that time, the child was much changed from her first-day appearance of trembling like a puppy caught in the rain.

Being naturally lively and possessing good innate sociability, she had already garnered plenty of favorable looks from Yoon Je-eun and the other Wolsigak members.

Lin, who had only ever been in a harsh environment for so long, found this warm atmosphere unfamiliar at first, saying it had been a while, but soon began appearing everywhere, trying to learn Wolsigak’s work with a bright demeanor.

Judging by her cautious attitude, while not forgetting her position as a prisoner, she seemed determined to be helpful in any way.

Even knowing the child was an adult with a higher mental age than she appeared, Hyeonwol couldn’t help but feel compassion for her situation, so he didn’t overly restrain her efforts.

It was also true that the minor information Lin sporadically provided about the Blood Cult’s internal affairs was helpful.

Originally, the child wasn’t in a significant enough position within the Blood Cult to know important secrets, but for now, even trivial stories were valuable.

Whenever information about the Blood Cult came to mind, the child would come running to tell Hyeonwol immediately.

However, this time seemed different from previous matters.

What did she mean by suddenly being able to see energy?

Had she opened her spiritual eyes?

“Yes!

You could say this is opening my spiritual eyes!”

Lin swallowed the candy she had been nibbling in one bite and exclaimed.

Hyeonwol, who had spoken half-jokingly, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her, but he couldn’t grasp what phenomenon this was.

“You know, there’s that flow of energy swirling inside people’s bodies.

I can see it as is!

Not just when someone uses internal power to perform martial arts, but even the energy that naturally flows in ordinary people’s bodies during daily life!

I can see not only the artificially accumulated internal power in the dantian but also things like the innate true energy that living things originally possess.

My vision is incredibly strange and overwhelming, but if I think I don’t want to see, it disappears.

Still, I feel much more sensitive to energy flow and…!”

“Wait, so… you’re saying you can sense even this?”

As Hyeonwol slightly raised his internal power, a gentle breeze blew through the quiet room.

Feeling the energy brushing her cheeks, Lin laughed heartily and nodded confidently.

“Yes!

You just raised internal power from your dantian and sent it out toward your left hand!

This is really amazing!”

At her clear answer, Hyeonwol could only smile, feeling amazed himself.

It wasn’t just sensitivity to flow; being able to visually perceive the movement of energy itself was an ability that could be helpful depending on how it was used.

Not only could it detect threats in advance, but it would certainly help in surviving combat situations.

“I don’t know why you’ve developed this ability now, but congratulations anyway, A-Lin.

Depending on how you use it, it could become a good weapon for you.”

“Hehehe, thank you.

This might all be thanks to my lord’s grace….

Huh?

What’s this?”

Lin, who had been spouting the habitual flattery of a socialized person, wore a blank expression, then gradually widened her round eyes and began repeating.

“Huh?

Huh?”

Hyeonwol, who had also adopted a puzzled expression, soon realized that Lin’s gaze was directed toward his chest area.

Having some inkling, he pretended not to notice and began organizing the documents on the table with an inwardly uneasy demeanor.

“Why, is there something on my face?”

“Well, my lord’s face always has handsomeness on it… but that’s not it!

My…my lord.

I know this question is rude, but….

How are you alive?”

“What do you mean, how am I alive?

I guess the world didn’t want this face to die and disappear.

Considering it even let me regress.”

Despite her incoherent question, Hyeonwol wasn’t flustered at all and grinned with playful mischief.

At that, Lin couldn’t hide her dumbfounded expression.

At a loss for words, Lin began staring intently at Hyeonwol’s surroundings.

The child’s eyes, reading something invisible, held a rather mysterious light.

Hyeonwol found himself observing her with equal interest.

His attitude wasn’t very serious.

Lin, forcing herself to ignore Hyeonwol, continued examining his internal energy for a long while.

She hastily opened her mouth.

“I don’t know how to describe this, but I see some energy in my lord’s body that isn’t internal power or innate true energy.

It’s shining golden….

Vast and pure…

Ah, that’s not important.

Anyway, that energy is completely shattered!

So, I should say it doesn’t form a flow….

That’s why it seems like it wouldn’t be strange if those fragments were tearing your body apart right now.

What on earth is going on?”

This was something even Hyeonwol didn’t know.

Energy that wasn’t internal power or innate true energy—how could he possibly know its identity?

It seemed the countless physicians of the martial world who all said Hyeonwol’s condition had ‘no known cause’ weren’t wrong.

He had thought it might simply be lingering remnants of the demonic sword’s curse, but that curse seemed to be in a different form than he had vaguely imagined.

Hyeonwol nodded calmly, thinking, ‘I see.’

It was Lin who became anxious instead.

“Oh come on, don’t make that indifferent face!

This really looks dangerous, you know?

It’s like metal fragments have entered your body, shattered horribly, and are churning around inside!

There’s no way your physical condition can be normal… but….”

Trailing off, Lin suddenly recalled a fact she had forgotten.

The First Prince as known to the world had been deposed from the crown prince position due to his health, and his illness was so severe that rumors circulated he couldn’t leave his sickbed.

Over the three days she had spent with him, Hyeonwol hadn’t seemed at all like someone sick, so she had unconsciously assumed and dismissed it, thinking he might have fabricated it to comfortably operate as the head of Wolsigak.

But…

Becoming aware of the medicinal herb scent that always subtly surrounded Hyeonwol, Lin could be certain the rumors weren’t entirely false.

“My lord.

Surely….”

Meeting the child’s greatly trembling eyes, Hyeonwol felt bitter but smiled silently.

It seemed he had inadvertently revealed an unpleasant truth, but he didn’t want to cause unnecessary anxiety.

“Head, it’s Je-eun.

I’ll come in for a moment.”

At that moment, Hyeonwol turned his head toward the presence opening the paper door to the head’s office.

Lin seemed to have many things she wanted to ask Hyeonwol.

But instinctively realizing it was a sensitive matter, she similarly trailed off and swallowed her business.

Yoon Je-eun entered the inner room and lightly bowed.

Before Hyeonwol, with his ever-calm complexion, she hesitated as if reluctant and opened her mouth.

“There’s a guest at the main gate….

Seol Cheon-yu has visited, Head.

It seems you’ll need to go out and see him personally.”

At the news that Seol Cheon-yu had come, Lin’s complexion turned even paler and she quickly hid in a corner of the room.

Her appearance was like a frightened small animal from that first day, making Yoon Je-eun and Hyeonwol simultaneously wear pitying expressions.

Seol Cheon-yu seemed terribly frightening to her.

Understanding that feeling better than anyone, Hyeonwol rose from his seat with a complicated air.

Though he had expected Seol Cheon-yu would naturally come since the promised three days had passed, he couldn’t prevent the tension seeping in.

He had thought a lot over the past three days, and while his attitude or stance hadn’t changed in the end, the protagonist was still difficult to deal with.

Moreover, even when explaining things to Lin, he had spoken indirectly about what happened when he regressed, but anyway, he had the memory of being killed by Seol Cheon-yu once….

No matter how rationally he tried to handle it, he unconsciously wanted to keep his distance.

My fault, it’s my fault.

Though he had wanted to live more easily than in his previous life, now that things were right before him, his heart wasn’t at ease.

Hyeonwol, lamenting meaninglessly, told Lin to wait in the head’s office and left the inner room.

Even while crossing the not-insignificant outer courtyard, the distinctive presence from the main gate was clearly perceptible.

Hyeonwol had to realize anew that if Seol Cheon-yu set his mind to it, he could sufficiently seize control of Wolsigak’s main headquarters with his individual martial prowess alone.

For now, their relationship was one of mutual concession—probably—but he could only hope never to be in opposition with Seol Cheon-yol even in the future.

As he reached the main gate, Kang Ryun, who had been warily observing Seol Cheon-yu nearby, first positioned himself beside Hyeonwol.

Though their relationship had been quite distrustful lately, at this moment he seemed intent on faithfully fulfilling his guard duties.

Seeing Kang Ryun like that actually made Hyeonwol feel his tension ease.

He let out an inappropriate, foolish laugh.

“You’ve arrived, my lord.”

“Why are you so tense?

My sworn younger brother is just too outstanding.”

“…….”

Isn’t it normal to be tense?

Kang Ryun’s rebuttal was sufficiently conveyed through his furrowed expression alone.

Hyeonwol smiled, pretending not to notice, and turned his head.

Given that this was the notorious head of the Demonic Cult, infamous throughout the vast martial world, and such a powerful figure, Kang Ryun’s reaction was perfectly reasonable.

Still, Hyeonwol had made up his mind to face him by deliberately picturing the young Seol Cheon-yu he remembered.

…Actually, it seemed he was more tense than anyone.

Taking in the sight of Seol Cheon-yu standing with a posture no different from last time, Hyeonwol approached him.